SafetyPaperwork
Painting · United States

JHA for spray painting

By Safety PaperworkBuilt from OSHA standards and guidance · How we write and check theseUpdated

OSHA expects employers to find and control hazards on every job, and many general contractors require a written JHA for spray painting before you start.

A JHA breaks the job into steps, lists the hazards in each step and the controls that protect the crew, and the crew signs it. The main hazards are flammable liquids and gases, fire and emergencies, hazardous chemicals and eye injuries.

Make this JHA nowWord templatePDF

JHA example: spray painting

This is a complete JHA for spray painting, with 6 job steps. Open it in the builder to add your site, crew and signatures, change anything, and download a PDF. Or download the free Word template below and fill it in by hand.

Job Hazard Analysis (JHA)
Airless spray painting · Painting · Example
Document JHA-001 · Rev 1

Job steps, hazards and controls

#Job stepHazardsRisk beforeControlsRisk after
1Mask off and ventilate the area, and remove ignition sources
  • Flammable liquids and gases
  • Fire and emergencies
High
  • Use non-flammable or water-based products where you can. Substitution
  • Keep ignition sources away: no smoking, no hot work and no running engines near flammables. Engineering (guarding)
  • Store fuels and solvents in approved, closed containers in a ventilated area away from the work. Engineering
  • Refuel equipment outdoors with the engine off and cool. Administrative
  • Keep only what you need for the day on site. Administrative
  • Store gas cylinders upright, secured and outdoors. Administrative
  • Keep a suitable fire extinguisher where flammables are used or stored. Administrative
  • Wear chemical gloves and safety glasses when pouring or mixing. PPE
  • Provide fire extinguishers suited to the site, checked and easy to reach. Engineering
  • Keep exits and escape routes clear and signed. Engineering
  • Have a site emergency plan: alarm, exits, assembly point and emergency contacts. Administrative
  • Keep a stocked first aid kit and at least one trained first aider on site. Administrative
  • Know the site address and how emergency services get in. Call 911. Administrative
  • Go through the emergency plan with every worker and visitor at induction. Administrative
  • Keep flammable materials and rubbish away from exits and escape routes. Administrative
Medium
2Check hoses and tip guard, and lock the trigger when not spraying
  • Stored energy
  • Hazardous chemicals
Medium
  • Release or block all stored energy before work: release the pressure in pipes, tanks and hoses, bleed hydraulics, release springs, lower loads. Elimination
  • Lock out and tag all energy sources with personal locks. Engineering (guarding)
  • Stored energy: see step 5 for the full controls Administrative
  • Choose the least harmful product that does the job, for example water-based instead of solvent-based. Substitution
  • Use chemicals in well-ventilated areas, or use fans and extraction in closed rooms. Engineering
  • Hazardous chemicals: see step 4 for the full controls Administrative
Medium
3Never point the gun at anyone or put a hand near the tip
  • Stored energy
  • Cuts from sharp edges
Medium
  • Put mechanical blocks or props under raised parts like buckets, tipper bodies and doors. Engineering
  • Test that the system is dead and nothing can move before you start. Administrative
  • Stored energy: see step 5 for the full controls Administrative
  • Deburr or cover sharp edges, and fit edge protectors on exposed sheet metal. Engineering
  • Use knives with retractable or self-retracting blades. Engineering
  • Cut away from your body and keep your other hand clear. Administrative
  • Put used blades in a blade bin or sharps container. Administrative
  • Use two people to handle large sheets of metal or glass. Administrative
  • Wear cut-resistant gloves and long sleeves. PPE
Low
4Spray with a respirator and goggles, keeping others out
  • Hazardous chemicals
  • Eye injuries
Medium
  • Choose the least harmful product that does the job, for example water-based instead of solvent-based. Substitution
  • Use chemicals in well-ventilated areas, or use fans and extraction in closed rooms. Engineering
  • Read the Safety Data Sheet (SDS) and labels before use, following OSHA Hazard Communication. Administrative
  • Keep chemicals in labeled containers. Never pour them into drink bottles. Administrative
  • Store chemicals away from heat, food and drink, and keep products that react with each other apart. Administrative
  • Have eye wash and a spill kit nearby, and wash hands before eating. Administrative
  • Wear chemical-resistant gloves and safety glasses or goggles as listed on the SDS. PPE
  • Use a respirator with the right cartridge if the SDS calls for one. PPE
  • Use tool guards and screens to stop flying particles. Engineering
  • Use dust extraction and water to keep dust out of the air. Engineering
  • Keep others out of the area when cutting, grinding or chipping. Administrative
  • Keep an eye wash station or eye wash bottles on site. Administrative
  • Wear safety glasses at all times, goggles for dust and chemicals, and a face shield for grinding. PPE
Medium
5Release pressure before cleaning or changing tips
  • Stored energy
Medium
  • Release or block all stored energy before work: release the pressure in pipes, tanks and hoses, bleed hydraulics, release springs, lower loads. Elimination
  • Lock out and tag all energy sources with personal locks. Engineering (guarding)
  • Put mechanical blocks or props under raised parts like buckets, tipper bodies and doors. Engineering
  • Test that the system is dead and nothing can move before you start. Administrative
  • Follow the maker's procedure, for example for garage door and roller door springs. Administrative
  • Wear safety glasses and gloves. PPE
Low
6Clean the pump and dispose of solvent waste properly
  • Flammable liquids and gases
  • Poor housekeeping and waste
High
  • Flammable liquids and gases: see step 1 for the full controls Administrative
  • Order materials to size and send packaging back where you can. Elimination
  • Put dumpsters and waste chutes close to the work. Engineering
  • Clean as you go, and do a full clean up at the end of each day. Administrative
  • Keep exits, stairs and walkways clear at all times. Administrative
  • Stack materials neatly on level ground, away from edges. Administrative
  • Wear gloves when handling waste. PPE
Medium

PPE

Half-face respirator (P100 cartridges)Safety goggles (ANSI Z87.1)CoverallsChemical-resistant glovesSafety-toe boots (ASTM F2413)Safety glasses (ANSI Z87.1)Work glovesCut-resistant glovesFace shield (ANSI Z87.1)

Plant and equipment

Airless paint sprayerAir compressorMobile (rolling) scaffold: Erected under a competent person (29 CFR 1926.451)Scissor lift: Trained operator: OSHA treats scissor lifts as mobile scaffolds (29 CFR 1926.452(w), 1926.454); ANSI A92.24 training and familiarization

Permits and plans

Lockout/tagout (1926.417)

Emergency

Call 911. Add the nearest hospital, the assembly point and the first aid / cpr person for your site.

Sign-off

Supervisor and every worker sign to confirm they have read and understood this JHA.

Free JHA template for spray painting

Word (.docx) and PDF, Letter landscape, no email needed. Fill in your site details, then print or send it.

Word template (.docx)PDF template

Make yours in 2 minutes

Same document, filled in for your job. Answer a few yes or no questions, the crew signs on the phone, and you send the PDF.

Start this JHA

Pre-start checklist for spray painting

Tick these off before work starts. They come from the hazards, permits and equipment in this job.

The safe sequence of work

  1. Mask off and ventilate the area, and remove ignition sources
  2. Check hoses and tip guard, and lock the trigger when not spraying
  3. Never point the gun at anyone or put a hand near the tip
  4. Spray with a respirator and goggles, keeping others out
  5. Release pressure before cleaning or changing tips
  6. Clean the pump and dispose of solvent waste properly

Hazards to watch on spray painting

The hazards most specific to this job, and the step where each one comes up.

Step 1, 6Flammable liquids and gasesGasoline, solvents, thinners and propane catch fire or explode when vapor reaches a spark, flame or hot surface.
Step 1Fire and emergenciesA fire, injury or other emergency happens and workers cannot get out, raise the alarm or get first aid in time.
Step 2, 3, 5Stored energyEnergy left in springs, hydraulics, compressed gas, raised loads or capacitors releases suddenly and crushes or injures workers.
Step 4Eye injuriesFlying chips, dust, chemicals or sparks get into the eye and cause damage or blindness.
Step 2, 4Hazardous chemicalsGlues, sealants, solvents, acids, cleaners and cement burn skin and eyes or cause breathing problems and poisoning.
Step 3Cuts from sharp edgesSheet metal, glass, blades, cable tray and offcuts cut hands and arms.
Almost certainLikelyPossibleUnlikelyRareHow bad it could be: First aid only to FatalityBA
Highest risk on spray painting: High before controls (B), down to Medium after controls (A), on the United States 5 by 5 risk matrix (unlikely and fatality becomes unlikely and recordable / lost time).

What changes on your site

This example covers the job itself. Your site may add more. Add controls for any of these that apply (the builder asks you these as yes or no questions):

  • Will anyone work 6 feet or more above a lower level?
  • Will anyone use a ladder or stepladder?
  • Will anyone work on a roof?
  • Is there a skylight, fiberglass panel or other fragile roofing?
  • Will you use a scaffold or rolling tower?

Licences and legal requirements in United States

Equipment on this job that needs a licence, ticket or training:

  • Mobile (rolling) scaffold: Erected under a competent person (29 CFR 1926.451)
  • Scissor lift: Trained operator: OSHA treats scissor lifts as mobile scaffolds (29 CFR 1926.452(w), 1926.454); ANSI A92.24 training and familiarization

OSHA requires employers to find and fix hazards and to train workers on them. A JHA breaks the job into steps, lists the hazards in each step and the controls that protect the crew. General contractors often require one before you start.

Rules that apply: 29 CFR 1926.152; 29 CFR 1926 Subpart F; 29 CFR 1926.59 Hazard Communication.

Why JHAs get rejected

General contractors send documents back for these reasons. This example avoids them, but check yours too.

  • Generic steps such as "work safely" or "use PPE" with no task-specific hazards or controls.
  • No OSHA standards referenced for the hazards that have them, such as fall protection, ladders, scaffolds or silica.
  • No competent person named for fall protection, excavation, scaffolds or silica where those hazards exist.
  • Equipment listed without inspection requirements, and no training listed for the people using it.
  • Respirators listed with no respiratory protection program, medical clearance or fit test.
  • Controls rely only on PPE when engineering controls such as guardrails, wet cutting or extraction are feasible.
  • No crew sign-off, or no date and revision when the job has changed.

Questions

Do I need a JHA for spray painting?

OSHA expects employers to find and control hazards on every job, and many general contractors require a written JHA for spray painting before you start.

Who signs the JHA?

The supervisor or competent person who prepared it signs, and every crew member signs to show they were trained on the hazards and controls before the job starts. Many general contractors also sign to accept it.

How long do I keep it?

Keep this JHA on site during the job, and keep it with the training and inspection records for at least 1 year after the job (longer if your state plan or general contractor requires it). OSHA does not set a retention period for JHAs themselves.

What PPE is needed for spray painting?

Usually Half-face respirator (P100 cartridges), Safety goggles (ANSI Z87.1), Coveralls, Chemical-resistant gloves, Safety-toe boots (ASTM F2413), Safety glasses (ANSI Z87.1), Work gloves, Cut-resistant gloves, Face shield (ANSI Z87.1). The site rules may add more, so check with the general contractor.

More painting JHAs

JHALead Paint Removal (RRP)10 stepsJHAInterior Painting6 stepsJHAExterior House Painting6 stepsJHARoof Coating6 stepsJHAPressure Washing6 stepsJHAEpoxy Floor Coating5 steps

Related jobs in other trades

DrywallDrywall InstallationAlso involves cuts from sharp edgesRoofingRoof ReplacementAlso involves cuts from sharp edgesWelding and fabricationSteel ErectionAlso involves eye injuriesElectricalElectrical Panel UpgradeAlso involves cuts from sharp edgesLandscapingTree RemovalAlso involves fire and emergencies

Toolbox talks for this job

Toolbox talkHazard Communication and SDS

Blank JHA template: free JHA templates. Also for other countries: Australia (SWMS) · United Kingdom (RAMS) · Canada (FLHA)

Sources